Gripping glove for golf clubs



Jan. 27, 1942. A. c. LINK 2,270,882

GRIPPING GLOVE FOR GOLF CLUBS Filed Aug. 5, 1938 Alberi 6 Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRIPPING GLOVE FOR GOLF CLUBS Albert 0. Link, Dayton, Ohio Application August 5, 1938, Serial No. 223,301

2 Claims. (01. 2-459) This invention relates to golf gloves, used in playing the game of golf, and particularly to the palm or gripping member of the glove, having for its object to provide a left hand form-fitting structure having a configuration which serves as a definite guide to the proper placement of the golf club in the left hand, and which causes the thenar muscles to contact and reinforce the position of the palm and fingers of the left hand grip, insuring compactness and secure gripping of the left hand while avoiding the objectionable tension of the muscles of the left hand and forearm frequently occasioned by golfers in grippin the club too tightly.

The experts and masters in the scienceand art of this most interesting and popular game, have developed a definite realization that correct gripping is the fundamental principle of importance to control proper timing and accuracy throughout the entire swing or stroke. The most difllcult and uncertain procedure of the inexperienced player attempting to execute the first and fundamental step in the preparation of a golf stroke, is due to his uncertainty of how to properly contact the handle of the club with his left hand, and unless this position is acquired and is reasonably accurate, the right hand grip cannot be set to properly function in harmony with the left.

The back stroke of a swing is in reality the process of winding up or storing energy to attain the power which is released and amplified in the downwardmotion of the stroke. Complete control in gripping, especially with left hand at the top ,or extreme of the back swing and throughout the forward stroke, is imperative to power, accuracy and correct timing. Any weakening or shifting of the grip of the left hand throughout the swing until after impact with the ball, can only result in failure.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a left hand form-fitting structure which may be built into the golf glove proper, or applied thereto, that will not only enable any player to correctly grip the club with the left hand but will at the same time afford every comfort and ease to firm and proper gripping throughout the entire swing or stroke, thereby accentuating power and control.

The palm supporting structure or unit can be made of any suitable composition material. A molded composition rubber is preferable, and the unit can be either exposed or covered. It can be sewed, cemented or so affixed as to be made a definite part of the glove.

My palm form-fitting cushion grip unit structure applied to the left hand glove, is provided with raised surfaces of greater length than breadth to act as a definite guide to the proper placement of the club handle in the left hand.

The above and other objects of my invention will be more clearly understood from the folsition of both hands grasping a club handle, the

left hand wearing my improved golf glove.

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing position of gloved hand closed upon palm form-fitting filler unit in the act of gripping the circular handle of a club.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the palmsupporting golf glove showing the manner of accommodating itself to a circular golf club handle.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal side view of the glove *5 palm form-fitting member showing the outer convex curve and the conformity curves.

Figure 6 is a reverse side view of the glove palm form-fitting attachment showin the inside longitudinal recessed concavity of the unit to accommodate the tapered circumference of a golf club handle.

Figure 'l is a plan view of the palm of a glove having my palm form-fitting attachment secured exteriorly to the glove, a section of the glove being cut along a curved line and then cemented against one side of the attachment.

My cushion grip unit for cooperating with a golf glove is so constructed that the longitudinal bulge fills in the natural hollow of the palm of the hand created by flexed finger gripping, and

is so formed to allow the thenar eminence l3, of the thumb of the left hand to overlap this bulge. The concave conformity curve l4, integral to the main curve, introduced to support the base of the forefinger of the left hand during the act of of gripping in conjunction with the substantial convex structure I 2 provided for the over-lapping thenar eminence.

This lower border of the thenar eminence I3 point of contact to the handle of a golf club, with the muscles of the thenar eminence over-lapping the crest l2 of my left hand grip attachment gives a positive support to the left hand grip, thus maintaining proper functioning of the grip during the complete swing. The rear portion of my finger control grip is curved inwardly at I5 to fit the heel of the left hand. Upon the opposite side, the forward portion is curved inwardly at I6 to fit the under curve of the first joint of the left thumb.

The over-lapping contact of the thenar muscles l3 of the left hand not only supports the finger grip I! to a positive degree, but it is also the means of producing greater power with the left hand, arm and complete left side on the down stroke, definitely aiding in keeping the proper direction throughout the natural arc of the swing or stroke.

When the left hand control cushion gripping unit or attachment is constructed as shown in Fig. 7, in which the unit is fixed externally to the palm of a golf glove with the concavity facing outward, it may be sewed, cemented or so affixed as to be made a definite part of the glove. The glove palm may be slit as shown along an arcuate line l8, thus leaving an opening in the palm and thereby providing a flap portion I9, which is free from the palm of the glove except along its edge or line of attachment to the palm and may be cemented to the gripping attachment when it is positioned at the desired angle with the concavity I 2 facing outward. By attaching the gripping unit externally of the palm of the glove in this manner by means of the flap, a limited rocking movement of the unit is permitted as the fingers of the golfer grasp it in positioning the hand upon the golf stick 21I, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The unit can be made of any suitable composition material, however a molded composition rubber is preferable.

The advantage of my left hand palm supporting golf glove will be appreciated by expert players as being anatomically correct, conforming physically to the hand and insuring maximum strength and accuracy during the swing. 'The glove grip unit attachment disclosed herein insures the correct position of the left hand over the longitudinally convex structure with the thenar muscles contacting and re-inforcing the position of the fingers of the left hand grip, insuring the compactness of the fingers of the grip While avoiding the creation of objectionable tension of the muscles of the left hand and forearm.

The longitudinally convex structure is arranged at a desired angle in the palm of the glove, as indicated in Fig. 4 so that when the hand is in position on the handle of the golf club, the proper grip on the club is ensured. By superposing the pad above and exterior to the palm portion of the glove in this manner, the pad may adjust itself to the golf stick or club handle about its longitudinal axis with respect to the body of the glove as the fingers of the hand are being closed into gripping position. The palm supporting pad may thereby accurately position itself upon the golf stick until firmly held by the grip of the hand. Moreover the outwardly facing exposed rubber concave surface which is thereby brought into direct contact with the golf stick or club is brought into more intimate engagement throughout its entire surface so that it obtains a firm, tight, non-slipping grip upon the club. These distinct features are entirely new and possess advantages not heretofore obtained in golf gripping devices.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A golf glove having a thumbless body provided with a flap member attached along one edge to the palm of the glove, an elastic gripping member disposed to fill the hollow in the palm of the golfers hand formed by flexing the fingers into gripping position, said member comprising an elongated pad, crescent shaped in transverse section, the back portion tapering in thickness from the center both longitudinally and transversely to thin edges, said gripping member being secured to said flap longitudinally on the outer side thereof so as to be disposed diagonally across the outside of the palm of the glove, so that the longitudinal front concave face of the elastic gripping member may directly engage and partially encircle the handle of a golf club.

2. A golf glove having a thumbless body provided with a flap member attached along one edge to the palm of the glove, a gripping member of elastic material adapted to fill the hollow of a golfers hand when gripping a golf club, said gripping member comprising an elongated pad of rubber or the like, crescent shaped in transverse section, the back portion tapering in thickness from the center both longitudinally and transversely to the edges, the gripping member being secured to said flap longitudinally on the outer side thereof so as to be disposed dia onally across the outside of the palm of the glove so that the concave front face of the elastic gripping member may directly engage the golf club handle as the ends of the golfers fingers engage the outer portion of said flap.

ALBERT C. LINK. 

